Blocking Air Flow to Oil Cooler

[Pete Munroe]

My small block 347", 10.7 comp, 10+ quart Aviad oil pan has the oil cooler blocked off ALL YEAR.

The only time I have removed the (very elegant if I do say so) piece of cardboard and tape blocking the oil cooler was in a summer track event at ButtonWillow, a SCCA track to the west of Bakersfield...temp was in the 90's+.

Unless I am stuck in traffic, LA of course, I rarely see more than 160...almost feel guilty getting on the throttle wondering if enough oil if flowing.

I have been thinking about a oil thermostat.

OK, would a HEAT EXCHANGER do a better job of getting the oil temp UP quickly in warm up and keeping there when the car is at freeway speed but under hardly any load?

A friend of mine and I installed a heat exchange on his BackDraft 351/427 which had heating problems at the track to begin with, even after adding a oil cooler.

I think it is accurate to say the heat exchanger moderated temp swings, and as his water temp had always been running OK and it seemed the water cooling system had cooling capacity to spare no problem at the higher temps.

Of course a heat exchanger is harder to connect, water and oil lines..I know first hand. But this may really be a better solution, short of removing the oil cooler...(that would be too easy).

Pete

[richardferguson]

Fred
it's pretty solid. The brackets are tightened around rubber collars. No paint issues or movement in 3 years!
Richard

[lineslinger]

Thermostat mounted

[Dominik]

What a great idea to cover the cooler with the number plate!

I agree, you shouldn't need an oil cooler for street use, a heat exchanger would be the better idea - unless you live in Germany where street use means 5000+ rpm on the highway frequently.

Where do you measure your oil temp? The sensor should be in the sump.

Dom

[Pete Munroe]

Lineslinger,

What brand is the thermostat sandwich plate you are using?

Do you have another photo showing the plumbing after all the oil lines into, out of the engine, remote filter mount and oil cooler were set up?

Dominik,

The oil temp sensor on my car is on the front of the Aviad oil pan.

My friends Backdraft setup has the oil temp sensor on the oil line coming out of the filter and then into the heat exchanger.

thanks

Originally Posted by lineslinger

Thermostat mounted

[big-boss]

I stuck a black sheetshirt in the oil cooler hole of my car. You don't even notice it and it is lightweight.

[Dominik]

Good, the sensor should be in the sump. You want to "estimate" the oil temp when it leaves the bearings.

There is a most valuable chart on Randall's site:

http://www.performanceunlimited.com/
http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...tempguide.html

Note:
Engine oil temp is typically 75F hotter at the bearings than in the sump!
Bearings burn out at 375F (300F in the sump)

Dom

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by Pete Munroe

Lineslinger,

What brand is the thermostat sandwich plate you are using?

Do you have another photo showing the plumbing after all the oil lines into, out of the engine, remote filter mount and oil cooler were set up?

The brand of thermostat is a Mocal model #SP1T. This one only opens if the oil temp exceeds 220 degrees. The plumbing is straight forward. I do not use a remote adapter but I do use a System 1 reusable filter. The oil circulates through its normal channels in the engine. If oil temps. exceed 220 the thermostat opens partially, depending on temp., to help maintain it at 200 - 220 degrees but not exceeding the 220 limit.

Take a look at this link posted by RedBarchetta last year, its a good overview.

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/arch...p?t-77477.html

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

Flat rubber sheet that is cut to fit,1/8th inch thick slides in from grille side ,

blocks most airlfow to oil cooler.

rubber sheet available at OSH.

I tried blocking my oil cooler with a piece of cardboard this weekend with positive results. Outside temp on Saturday morning was about 43 degrees when I left the house and my oil got up to operating temperature pretty fast. I went to the hardware store this afternoon and found the 1/8" rubber sheet that Steve recommended. Looks great and works like a charm.

[PANAVIA]

Rubber Sheet will also give the insects a softer landing. ... . .. hahahah.

glad to see it helped.

[Great Asp]

What is a good operating temp range for an FE, or a Windsor?

E

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Great Asp

What is a good operating temp range for an FE, or a Windsor?

E

Water boils at 212. Ideally you want to achieve that temp so that moisture and any other impurities "boil off/out." That being said, oil should typically run 20-30 degrees warmer than the water (when CRUISING). So if your CRUISING water temps are running at 190, your oil should be in the 215-220 range. Race conditions are an entirely different matter.

-Dean #747

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Water boils at 212. Ideally you want to achieve that temp so that moisture and any other impurities "boil off/out." That being said, oil should typically run 20-30 degrees warmer than the water (when CRUISING). So if your CRUISING water temps are running at 190, your oil should be in the 215-220 range. Race conditions are an entirely different matter.

-Dean #747

So about 105 c. What temp would be the danger zone?

[Dominik]

Your bearings wipe out at 375F, which results in 300F in the sump.

195F in the sump will get you the longest lifetime of your engine.

From: performanceunlimited.com

Dom

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Dominik

...in the sump

Ideally that's the best place for a temp pick-up. Mine is at the external oil filter, so logically it would read a few degrees cooler (my temps are determined before the oil gets routed to either the thermostat or the cooler).

For me personally, any oil temp approaching 240-250F while cruising or "moderate fun" ( ) is when the concern buttons get pushed. Have never seen it there (knock on wood).

[Night Enforcer]

I run a Canton. Same problem as others have stated. When it is in the 40 to50s range still takes a while to warm up. I am considering a plexi cover for those cool mornings. In city traffic Canton opens at 100C and stays within a few degrees all the time.

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Ideally that's the best place for a temp pick-up. Mine is at the external oil filter, so logically it would read a few degrees cooler (my temps are determined before the oil gets routed to either the thermostat or the cooler).

For me personally, any oil temp approaching 240-250F while cruising or "moderate fun" ( ) is when the concern buttons get pushed. Have never seen it there (knock on wood).

In the pan sump is best. My new FE does not have room in the front of the pan for the temp sensor, so it is (for the time being) going on the filter stand as the sway bar is in the way.

The filter stand is not a good place to put the sensor. It has been proven that the quick bend at the filter stand artificially increases the oil temp seen at the gage. At least on the standard Superformance stand.

One of my projects once I get the car is to re-locate the sensor to the oil sump in the pan.

Eric